Food

Football on the menu

Shelby Paddison heads to Rio Ferdinand’s restaurant Rosso

The delicate pink flowers, elegant marble features and luxurious atmosphere in this Grade-II listed Victorian building in central Manchester couldn’t be further removed from the loud, industrial aesthetic of Old Trafford. But the two do have something in common – and his name is Rio.

The surroundings are breathtaking and offer no hint that the owner is also in possession of six Premier League titles and a Champions League winner’s medal. That said, like Rio Ferdinand himself, Rosso doesn’t take itself too seriously; the staff at the former United defender’s restaurant are attentive and friendly when they talk you through the Italian menu.

Rosso Ristorante e Bar, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BG

You’ll find the expected staple dishes across the antipasti and mains; bruschetta, spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle Bolognese all feature. But in a restaurant as divine as this, indulgence is the only real option. That’s why we opted for duck ham and grilled octopus to start, both of which lit up our tastebuds. The octopus comes garnished with roast potatoes, N’duja, tomatoes and peppers; the duck ham, thinly sliced and cured, is served with goat’s cheese and asparagus.

WHILE FERDINAND HAS BEEN BUSY ANALYSING AT EURO 2020, HIS RESTAURANT TEAM HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THEIR BEST MAIN COURSE LINE-UP. STEP FORWARD ROAST LOIN OF VENISON, PRAWN-AND-CRAB TORTELLONI, AND CAVATELLI WITH TRUFFLE SAUSAGE

While Ferdinand has been busy analysing  at EURO 2020, his restaurant team have been evaluating their best main course line-up. Step forward roast loin of venison, prawn-and-crab tortelloni, and cavatelli with truffle sausage. The venison is beautifully presented with blackberries, pickled walnuts, truffled heritage potato galette and smoked bone-marrow butter. The prawn and crab are plentiful, the truffle sausage nutty and alluring, and the creamy pasta sublime.


As you might expect given the on-field exploits of its owner, Rosso is elegant without being ostentatious. That’s definitely worth celebrating – though perhaps not quite as vociferously as Rio used to.

Address:
Rosso Ristorante e Bar,
43 Spring Gardens,
Manchester, M2 2BG

The delicate pink flowers, elegant marble features and luxurious atmosphere in this Grade-II listed Victorian building in central Manchester couldn’t be further removed from the loud, industrial aesthetic of Old Trafford. But the two do have something in common – and his name is Rio.

The surroundings are breathtaking and offer no hint that the owner is also in possession of six Premier League titles and a Champions League winner’s medal. That said, like Rio Ferdinand himself, Rosso doesn’t take itself too seriously; the staff at the former United defender’s restaurant are attentive and friendly when they talk you through the Italian menu.

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Rosso Ristorante e Bar, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BG

You’ll find the expected staple dishes across the antipasti and mains; bruschetta, spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle Bolognese all feature. But in a restaurant as divine as this, indulgence is the only real option. That’s why we opted for duck ham and grilled octopus to start, both of which lit up our tastebuds. The octopus comes garnished with roast potatoes, N’duja, tomatoes and peppers; the duck ham, thinly sliced and cured, is served with goat’s cheese and asparagus.

WHILE FERDINAND HAS BEEN BUSY ANALYSING AT EURO 2020, HIS RESTAURANT TEAM HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THEIR BEST MAIN COURSE LINE-UP. STEP FORWARD ROAST LOIN OF VENISON, PRAWN-AND-CRAB TORTELLONI, AND CAVATELLI WITH TRUFFLE SAUSAGE

While Ferdinand has been busy analysing  at EURO 2020, his restaurant team have been evaluating their best main course line-up. Step forward roast loin of venison, prawn-and-crab tortelloni, and cavatelli with truffle sausage. The venison is beautifully presented with blackberries, pickled walnuts, truffled heritage potato galette and smoked bone-marrow butter. The prawn and crab are plentiful, the truffle sausage nutty and alluring, and the creamy pasta sublime.


As you might expect given the on-field exploits of its owner, Rosso is elegant without being ostentatious. That’s definitely worth celebrating – though perhaps not quite as vociferously as Rio used to.

Address:
Rosso Ristorante e Bar,
43 Spring Gardens,
Manchester, M2 2BG

The delicate pink flowers, elegant marble features and luxurious atmosphere in this Grade-II listed Victorian building in central Manchester couldn’t be further removed from the loud, industrial aesthetic of Old Trafford. But the two do have something in common – and his name is Rio.

The surroundings are breathtaking and offer no hint that the owner is also in possession of six Premier League titles and a Champions League winner’s medal. That said, like Rio Ferdinand himself, Rosso doesn’t take itself too seriously; the staff at the former United defender’s restaurant are attentive and friendly when they talk you through the Italian menu.

Rosso Ristorante e Bar, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BG

You’ll find the expected staple dishes across the antipasti and mains; bruschetta, spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle Bolognese all feature. But in a restaurant as divine as this, indulgence is the only real option. That’s why we opted for duck ham and grilled octopus to start, both of which lit up our tastebuds. The octopus comes garnished with roast potatoes, N’duja, tomatoes and peppers; the duck ham, thinly sliced and cured, is served with goat’s cheese and asparagus.

WHILE FERDINAND HAS BEEN BUSY ANALYSING AT EURO 2020, HIS RESTAURANT TEAM HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THEIR BEST MAIN COURSE LINE-UP. STEP FORWARD ROAST LOIN OF VENISON, PRAWN-AND-CRAB TORTELLONI, AND CAVATELLI WITH TRUFFLE SAUSAGE

While Ferdinand has been busy analysing  at EURO 2020, his restaurant team have been evaluating their best main course line-up. Step forward roast loin of venison, prawn-and-crab tortelloni, and cavatelli with truffle sausage. The venison is beautifully presented with blackberries, pickled walnuts, truffled heritage potato galette and smoked bone-marrow butter. The prawn and crab are plentiful, the truffle sausage nutty and alluring, and the creamy pasta sublime.


As you might expect given the on-field exploits of its owner, Rosso is elegant without being ostentatious. That’s definitely worth celebrating – though perhaps not quite as vociferously as Rio used to.

Address:
Rosso Ristorante e Bar,
43 Spring Gardens,
Manchester, M2 2BG

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